->''"It's likely that no amount of practice will allow you to hurl fireballs just by crouching, moving towards someone and then punching the air. Still, if you do run across an opponent who's dressed in a gi (with sleeves that appear to have been ripped off in savage fury), it's probably best to steer clear of them."'' -->-- '''Wesite/{{Cracked}}''', ''[[http://www.cracked.com/article_15966_5-movie-fighting-styles-too-awesome-to-actually-exist.html#ixzz34O2no1x0 5 Movie Fighting Styles Too Awesome to Actually Exist]]''

A scene in which a martial artist warns an antagonist that he knows martial arts before kicking the guy's ass. Bonus points for the martial artist assuming an outlandish AssKickingPose beforehand. The antagonist will always laugh off the warnings and be defeated in [[CurbStompBattle humiliating fashion]]. If the martial artist's skills turn out ''not'' to be effective, it's probably an example of IKnowKungFaux. These scenes were popular when [[MartialArtsMovie martial arts films]] started getting attention in the west. The martial artist will almost always study an Asian style, but the trope can still hold true with any named system of self-defence.

This trope is the inversion of GoodOldFisticuffs, in which an ArrogantKungFuGuy gets defeated by plain, no-nonsense asskicking (for bonus points, this happens [[TalkToTheFist before he's finished boasting]]).

It's pretty much a DeadHorseTrope now that Asian martial arts films and choreography have reached a saturation point in western culture. Ironically, the trope might have come full circle due to the rising popularity of UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts over most classic Asian martial arts styles.

You might be looking for SuddenlyAlwaysKnewThat, which [[TropeTransplant used to be called]] "I Know Kung Fu".

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/GateKeepers'' anime: Kageyama Reiji did this complete with throwing his jacket to the air for a good montage, even without the lines. When the jacket drops back on his hand, the thugs seemed to be hurt, until he himself collapsed. Though, [[spoiler: he's actually the BigBad, but a DangerouslyGenreSavvy one trying to achieve a VillainWithGoodPublicity status]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In [[Comicbook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Pre-Crisis]] ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, it was established that Krypton had martial arts. Faora of the Phantom Zone knew ''Horo-Kanu,'' with which she was able to knock Superman around pretty effectively. And Lois studied the art of ''Klurkor'' in the bottle city of Kandor, and got to use it from time to time.* JoseCarioca once tried to scare a bunch of criminals by claiming to be a good capoeira fighter, only to learn one of the criminals was a master of that art. He then claimed to know karate and was told another criminal of the bunch was a black belt.* Inverted in [[{{Tintin}} the Black Island]]. Tintin is thrown to the floor by one of the bad guys, who tells him "That was jiu-jitsu!". Tintin KO's him with a kick in the chin from the floor, responding "And that's savate!" [[note]]Savate is both a French style of kickboxing and a word for shoe. You may now start groaning.[[/note]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fan Fic ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' fan fiction ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2293412/1/Zen-and-the-Art-of-Ass-Whupping Zen and the Art of Ass-Whupping]]'' inverted this, playing out an alternative to one episode where the large football player was warned that the ninja knew martial arts. The martial artist naturally won. In the fan fiction though, it was turned around with the football player being a boxer, and succeeding.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* Subverted in ''[[Franchise/SherlockHolmes The Return of Sherlock Holmes]]'': Holmes warns the bruiser, "I know judo." The bruiser knew karate - and knew it better than Holmes did judo.* Subverted in ''Film/ImGonnaGitYouSucka'' when the group's martial arts expert is surrounded by cops he says something along the lines of "You dare to challenge me?" "A master of karate, kung fu, jujitsu and all this other shit you've never heard of?" "Ha ha ha!" The cops respond by [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim opening fire on him]]. And again later, when one of the heroes and bad guys square off against one another minus their guns, one of them hesitates and says, "I don't know any kung fu!" "Neither do I," says the other. "Want to fake it?" They then do just that.* Parodied and subverted in ''Film/RomeoMustDie'' when big black gangster Maurice corners small Chinese man Han. Maurice does the crane stance because "Now, you know you ain't the only one that knows some shit," and Han (or as we call him, Creator/JetLi, the last person in the world who'd be impressed by the crane stance) immediately kicks out Maurice's supporting knee.* That guy with the glasses in ''The Devil's Brigade'', which he apparently wears only so he can have TheGlassesComeOff.* In TheFilmOfTheSeries of ''Film/WildWildWest'', a {{Mook|s}} attempts to intimidate Creator/WillSmith with a series of moves he "learnt from a Chinaman". Smith then whacks him with a shovel; "I just made that up".* This memorable exchange in ''Film/FoxyBrown'':-->'''Bobbie:''' Listen skinny, before you start talking tough, I'd better warn you I've got a black belt in karate. So why don't you get out of here quietly, while you still got some teeth left in that ugly face?-->''[Foxy knocks her down with a barstool]''-->'''Foxy Brown:''' And I've got ''my'' black belt in barstools!* In the film adaptation of ''Film/RisingSun'', a bouncer warns Sean Connery that he's a black belt. Connery takes him out with a throat strike.* Roger Moore (AsHimself) attempts to threaten a thug like this in ''Film/TheCannonballRun'', saying: "I must warn you, I ''am'' Roger Moore" before trying an obviously fake martial arts move much like the ones he was using in his Bond movies. It fails to work.* In ''Film/{{Dutch}}'', an adolescent warns Dutch that he's a "high brown belt," then proceeds to kick his ass. Later, Dutch tries to pit his self-described "all-American streetfighting" against the kid's martial arts and loses again. He does, however, teach the kid how to throw a wicked haymaker.* Parodied in ''Film/OneCrazySummer''.-->'''Cassandra:'''First, you have to get through me.-->'''Kent:'''What do you know? Karate?-->'''Cassandra:'''I know Dow.-->'''Kent:'''Dow? What's Dow?-->'''Cassandra:'''Dow is the chemical company that makes mace.-->''She pulls out a can of mace and sprays them.''* In ''Film/TheMatrix'', Neo proclaims "I know kung-fu" after he has martial arts abilities uploaded into his brain. This is more a boast than a threat though.* In ''Torrente: El brazo tonto de la ley'', Malaguita claims to be a film-level martial artist and does some random UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}} stunts to prove it, in reference to ''OnlyTheStrong''.* In the 1996 remake of ''Film/TheNuttyProfessor'', Reggie Warrington, the InsultComic, attempts this on Buddy Love who [[PayEvilUntoEvil heckled him]] [[LaserGuidedKarma one too many times]], but Buddy anticipates his pathetic attempts to whip out his "streets skills" and {{Curb Stomp|Battle}}s him.* Film/{{Taken}}:-->''"I don't know who [[TheSyndicate you]] are, and I don't know what you want. If you are looking for a ransom, I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have, are [[TrainingFromHell a very particular set of skills]]. [[RetiredBadass Skills I have acquired over a very long career]]. [[BadassBoast Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you]]. If you let [[PapaWolf my daughter]] go now, that'll be the end of it: I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, [[ImplacableMan I will look for you]], [[{{Determinator}} I will find you]], [[IllKillYou and I will kill you]]."''

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Armageddon Trilogy'' book by RobertRankin. This exact line is said repeatedly by {{Elvis|Impersonator}} (yes, ''that'' Elvis). In the books Elvis constantly makes reference to his character from the movie Roustabout, in which he knew Karate (it goes with the 'sickle)** Also, subverted by the phrase "I must warn you that I am an exponent of Dimac, the world's most lethal martial art, and can maim or disfigure you with the mere pressure of a fingertip", because this phrase always causes the opponent to back down. Inevitably.** It's worth noting that in real life, Elvis was an 8th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate.* Subverted at one point with ''{{Spenser}}''. He is questioning a female gay rights activist, and the activist bristles when Spenser inevitably goes into SarcasmMode. Her (also female) bodyguard decides the interrogation has gone on long enough and tells Spenser to back off or she'll use her karate to "kick his nuts into his ass". He tells her to come on, then she [[GroinAttack kicks him in the balls]]. She is about to attempt using martial arts on him, but Spenser is able to fight through the pain and proceeds to [[CurbStompBattle drop her with one punch]]. After she regains consciousness he instructs her on how a kick to the balls are all well and good, but if the big guy you're fighting has enough of a weight-and-strength advantage over you (and Spenser towered over her), and knows how to fight himself (Spenser really, ''really'' does), all the kicks and martial arts in the world will not help you.** There's another moment in ''Stardust'' when a guy he's interviewing gets pissed, and has his bodyguard put on a wondrous display of karate skill by beating the hell out of a heavy bag, in order to intimidate Spenser into backing down. Spenser pulls out a revolver and shoots the bag.* Paul Wilsen (black belt in Kung-Fu) and Ed Summers (teaches Karate) in Literature/TheUnexpectedWitness, though Paul doesn't explicitly say he knows Kung-Fu until after the beatdown and Ed Summers is established about halfway through the book as being a Karate instructor.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In the first episode of season 2 of ''Series/LincolnHeights'', Cassie Sutton completely [[CurbStompBattle demolishes]] a would be racist attacker, much to the surprise of her boyfriend Charles. Her father taught the whole family defensive tactics after the hellish season 1 the family went through. Oddly enough this is the only time any of the Sutton kids displayed any martial arts abilities despite there being numerous occasions where they are needed.* ''Series/KungFu'' did this, of course.* ''Series/KnightRider'' did it at least once. Given how tall David Hasselhoff is, you can imagine just how big the local color had to be to carry this off.* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Third Doctor was a skilled practitioner of Venusian Aikido and, despite being grey headed and somewhat frail looking, had little difficulty in physical altercations, even when facing off against several opponents.* Subverted in an episode of ''Series/{{Alias}}'' in which Creator/QuentinTarantino starred. When Sydney attempts to beat him down with her martial arts skills, Tarantino susses out her style and responds with, "That's the problem with you kickboxers -- none of you can take a punch." And proceeds to knock her silly with her own skillset. She later acknowledges she ''does'' need to learn to take a punch...and kicks him in the head when he's down. (Also an aversion of WouldntHitAGirl.)* Parodied and subverted in ''Series/{{Friends}}'', where Ross is learning (comically overpronounced) karate. He claims to have supernatural awareness called "unagi" (actually a Japanese freshwater eel) but gets ambushed at the end of the episode.* ''Series/InLivingColor'' had Damon Wayans' character Anton the bum use this to try to get into the army (for the free food, of course)-->'''Anton:''' I know Tai-chi! Paw-paw-paw! I know Taikwondo! Paw-paw-paw! And I know Tyrone... yeah, he taught me all of that.* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' references ''The Matrix'' above, the first time Chuck flashes after uploading the improved Intersect in the second season finale. After [[CurbStompBattle wiping the floor with a bunch of mooks]] who managed to kill [[spoiler: Bryce Larkin]], he turns in shock to an (equally) shocked Sarah and Casey and proclaims "Guys, I know kung fu!"

* Sir Rodney from ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'' once tried to use this trope by telling a larger attacker that he had a black belt. Turned out the guy had the black ''suspenders''.* An early ''{{Garfield}}'' strip showed a mailman assuming a karate pose and warning Garfield not to attack him. But Garfield, being a cat, is much too small and moves much too fast for the mailman to land any blows, and bites and claws him repeatedly in a BigBallOfViolence, leaving the postman with AmusingInjuries.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Radio ]]

* In the ''Radio/CabinPressure'' episode "Helsinki", Carolyn's annoying grandnephew Kieran mentions that one of his hobbies is karate as he starts to make fun of Martin's pathetic life. Once Martin is irritated enough by Kieran's mockery to smack him, Kieran [[CurbStompBattle demonstrates that he actually does know karate]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

* In one of Creator/TylerPerry's ''Madea'' plays, one character tells Madea that she knows Tae-Bo. Unimpressed, Madea responds "And I know 'whup-your-ass!'"

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Parodied in ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest 5: The Next Mutation'', where Roger Wilco warns the BigBad "I know Kung Fu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and several other Chinese words!"* A variant in ''VideoGame/TheRiddleOfMasterLu'', and what would be a {{subver|tedTrope}}sion if the audience didn't already know, where [[PlayerCharacter Robert Ripley]] basically says "My girlfriend knows karate."--> '' Shen Guo has Ripley pinned on the ground at gunpoint and is about to finish him off.''--> '''Ripley:''' "I think I should warn you, you're not the only one who knows martial arts."--> '''Shen Guo''': "You?"--> '''Ripley''': "Heck no! If it were me, you wouldn't be in so much trouble right now."--> '''Mei Chen''': [kicks the gun away from Shen Guo's hand]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* [[http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/10/17/ Parodied]] in ''Webcomic/PennyArcade''. For extra hilarity, the guy he's talking to is Asian.-->'''Gabe''': You leave me no choice. Now, I have to do karate to you.-->'''Clerk''': Do you even know karate?-->'''Gabe''': I know ''techniques'' that have [[WeaselWords certain elements which have been described--by some--as "karate-like".]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' knows sixteen styles apparently... Mantis not so much.* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooWhereAreYou'' has Shaggy and Scooby trying to bluff a Chinese ghost with the line "I know judo, chop suey, and Chinese checkers!" This being [[BigEater Shaggy and Scooby]] we're talking about, they later escape from the ghost's henchmen by serving them chocolate chop suey (with liver a la mode).* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'', where Cindy is captured and subsequently manipulated by Eustace Strych despite having yelled "I Know Karate"!* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'', Fred tries this line, only for his opponent to go, "Who is that?" before beating him up.* Jade in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' threatened a bully with the [[PreAssKickingOneLiner 'ancient art of butt whoop']]. Considering she's the niece of Jackie Chan, you can guess how this ends up.** She gets into trouble for thoroughly beating up the bully, who later comes back asking her to teach him. Instead, she teaches him self-control (something she herself lacks), and he is later shown breaking up a fight.* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', Garfield unwittingly angered a bunch of dogs and tried to discourage them from harming him by telling several lies. One of them was that cats knew karate. It didn't work.** In a ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' strip, a mailman says this to Garfield. Garfield beats him up and notes: "And I know fast and furious."** ''Garfield's Feline Fantasies'' featured Garfield fantasizing he was in an adventure movie, including a scene where he and the villain threaten each other:-->'''"Fat Guy"''': I would like you to meet [[TheDragon my associate]], Rameet. He doesn't smoke, drink, eat or sleep. He's been trained in the martial arts, you know. Judo, karate, tae kwan do, jujitsu, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking machete-eating]].-->'''Lance Sterling''' ''(Garfield)'': Big deal. This is ''my'' associate, Slobberjob ''(Odie)''. He doesn't think. He's been trained in [[BlackBeltInOrigami macrame, bansai, origami]], and he's nearly housebroken.* ''PunkinPussAndMushmouse'': Mushmouse once practiced Judo with a dummy and then tried to fight Punkin Puss and warned him about knowing judo. However, as Punkin Puss explained after defeating Mushmouse, he wasn't a dummy.* In the Donkey Kong Jr. segments of ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'', when Junior's human partner Bones is cornered by the bad guys he will often claim to know karate in order to try and fight them off; the villains never fall for it and Junior usually saves him before he can do anything.* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'', Johnny went out with ThePresidentsDaughter, who later got tired of Johnny's ignorance of American heritage and called for two bodyguards to get rid of him. Johnny reacts by stating he's a black belt, but the two guys know at least a dozen forms of martial arts, beat him up, and stuff him in a box under the Pentagon.* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' when Wan Shi Tong, chasing down Katara and Aang, tells her that ResistanceIsFutile, because he is a master of Southern Water Tribe style, Northern Water Tribe style, and even Foggy Swamp style water bending. [[LethalJokeCharacter And then Sokka]] [[DynamicEntry falls from above]] [[ImprovisedWeaponUser whalloping him in the head with a heavy book]].-->'''[[BadassNormal Sokka]]:''' [[BondOneLiner That's called Sokka Style]]. ''Learn it!''

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Generally averted by people who actually seriously practice martial arts, because you wish to defuse not escalate the confrontation. Often the only training for official/licensed mastery, e.g. black belt, is how to avoid getting into fights. Also telling anyone that you know karate is answered by either a "Well you don't look so tough to me" taunt or an impromptu performance of FunnyBruceLeeNoises.